How to Calculate the Cost of Your Cross-Country Move

A cross-country move can be expensive if you don’t plan ahead. In order to save money, you need to think about what you need to pay and make your reservations as soon as possible so that you get the best rates.

Here are some of the expenses you should think about when planning your move.

Packing Supplies

Many people believe they just need to get some boxes from their local supermarket and some shipping tape and they can pack most items in their home.

However, for a cross-country move, you want to make sure your boxes are sturdy to avoid having them crushed in the moving van. Moving boxes are available online and at most moving truck rental businesses.

The Mover or Rental Truck

You can hire a mover or handle the move yourself by renting a truck. A mover can provide you with an estimate based on the size of your home and the contents. The mover should visit your home to get the most accurate estimate.

If you rent a truck you have to determine the rental cost, the rental mileage cost, and the cost of gas. You can get the approximate mileage using an online mapping website. You can use this information to calculate the gas cost based on the truck’s estimated miles per gallon.

Clean-up and Disposal Services

Most likely you will not be taking everything with you. If you are leaving behind furniture or appliances, then you’ll need to pay for their disposal. Most local trash collectors will not handle large pieces of home furnishing or alliances. You can call around for a dumpster rental if you have a large amount of household items to dispose of.

After your home is empty you’ll want to either clean the house yourself or hire a cleaning service. The main benefit of the cleaning service is that they provide proof of the home’s condition if you ever have an issue with the next owner or landlord. Also, the cleaning service can clean your home after you leave, so you don’t have to wait to leave for your new home.

Transportation to Your New Home

If you rented a moving truck then you may need to get a car transport cost estimate. Some rental truck company’s have a hitch to allow you to tow your car, but for most moves you’ll need to pay a service to transport your vehicle. If there is more than one adult in the family, you can drive the truck and they can take the car.

If you hired a mover, you can drive your car to the new home. Remember to calculate the cost of gas. If you choose to fly in and have a car then you’ll need vehicle transport. If you don’t have a vehicle then you need to calculate the cost of transportation to your new city.

With each cost, there are ways to reduce your expenses. Get several quotes for each service and pick the one that offers the best price for the services promised.